Self-adjusting hat fitting appliance and the like



c. DOERING 2,348,615 SELF-ADJUSTING HAT FITTING APPLIANCE AND THE IJIKE May 9, 1944.

Filed Feb. 7, 1942 IN VENTOR.

i i a i mil Patented May 9, 1944- SELF-ADJUSTING HAT FITTING APPLIANCE AND THE LIKE Charles Doering, Chicago, Ill.

Application February '7, 1942, Serial No. 429,863

4 Claims.

This invention relates to hat fitting appliances and more particularly to self-adjusting hat sizing devices, although certain features thereof may be applied with equal advantages for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of an attachment that will conform a hat to the head of the wearer irrespective of substantial variations in their respective size.

One object of the present invention is to slimplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a pair of resilient confronting members of relatively different arcuate configuration to serve as a hat conforming device.

Another object is to provide a pair of resilient confronting members of relatively different arcuate configuration with displaceable free portions to serve as a hat conforming device responsive to its placement on the head of the wearer.

A further object is to provide relatively curved resilient members in confronting operative rela tion so that both will yield relative to each other to conform a hat to the head of the wearer.

' A still further object is to provide confronting resilient members with relatively curved contours so that one will yield relative to the other to conform a hat to a substantiall smaller head.

Still a further object is to provide relatively curved resilient bands anchored to each other to provide free extremities relatively displaceable responsive to imparting pressure thereto incident to the placement of a hat upon the, head of a wearer.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the'followi'ng description of an illustrative elm-- bodimentv ofthe present invention.

1 Inv the drawing:

Figure 1. is an edge View of a device embodying. features of the present invention.

Figure 2' is the front view in elevation of a device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation of a hat having a device embodying features of the pres ent invention shown in dotted outline in operative association therewith.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view conforming to Figure 4 but showing a slightly modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view in elevation of an extremity of shown in Figure 5, to illustrate the band attaching expedient for the hat fitting appliance.

The structure selected for illustration comprises asubstantially rectangular plate it preferably though not essentially stamped or otherwise shaped from resilient material'such as spring steel, bronze, Celluloid or plastics to impart theretoa normal arcuate configuration (Figure l) to present a substantially convex bow which is of considerably shorter radii than the average head of the wearer. The rectangular band It is an elongated shape with the convex bow normally provided therein to assume a curved position which would be too small for the range of heads for which-hats, caps, or other headgear may be provided. In other words, the extremities H and I 2 of the band H would normally engage the head with the intermediate bowed portion projecting substantially therefrom. The relative position of the head to the normal shape of the elongated band It! may be conveniently represented by the arcuatedottedline I3 (Figure 1). The range of head sizes would be such that the elongated band H1 in its normal positionwould never establish full contact with the head of the wearer.

In order to render the elongated member Hi more effective to adapt a larger hat, cap, or other headgear M to a substantially smaller head size i3, another elongated band l5 of substantially greater curvature than the band It), is operatively associated in confronting relation therewith.. To this end, the more highly curved band l5 has substantiall shorter radii than the band Ill; and is operatively associated therewith in any suitable manner. In the present embodiment the band [5 is anchored proximate to one extremity It to a corresponding end l2 of the band H] by any suitable fastening expedient such as spot-welding I11.

It should be noted that the band I5 is superposed upon band It and anchored proximate to the extremity E2 of the latter for superposed alignment so that normally the free extremity l-8 of the outer band IE will terminate appreciably short of the extremity H of the inner band; HI As a result, any radial stress imparted between the inner and outer bands Iii-l5- will cause the latter or superposed band IE to flex substantially and assume the curvature of the inner band ID as shown in dotted outline in Figure 1.

This is the initial step of conformance between the hat and head of the wearer to conthe modified device stitute a take-up in the event the variation be tween the head and hat size does not constitute a full size. In other words, where there is little variation between the head and hat the upper band I5 may conform fully. Any increased stress occasioned by even a smaller variation between the actual head and the hat size will tend to flex an inner band Ill and cause it to conform further to the head of the wearer in the event the relative variation therebetween does not exceed a fractional size. In other words, the confronting inner and outer bands II5 may be shaped and sized to serve as a take-up between the hat and the head of a full size or more, but there may be variations within a wide range depending upon the dictates of commercial practice as to the limit of take-up that shall be prescribed for any particular set of inner and outer bands Ifl-IS or a single band.

The superposed bands IiiI are preferably though not essentially inserted between the inner hat band l9 and the crown of the hat, cap, or other headgear I4 (Figures 3 and 4) To preclude movement of the superposed bands Iii-I5, it may be desirable to provide apertures 2I22 proximate to the extremities III2 of the inner band I0. This will enable the attachment of the inner band It) with its outer band I5, to the hat band I 9 by any suitable fastening expedients such as brads 23 that project therethrough for attachment to the inner hat band IS in a manner known with standard fasteners. Additionally, to preclude relative movement between the hat I4 and the outer band I5, a series of indentations providing corresponding projections 24 may be provided in the outer bands I5 to become impressed in the relatively soft material from which the crown 20 is made.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 the inner flexible hat band It has both extremities 'I I'I2' provided with normally disposed oifsets 2I'22' anchored thereto in any suitable manner such as by spot-welds 23. The offsets 2| terminate in reversely bent flanges 24' that are adapted to engage over the peripheral edge 25 of the inner hat band IS in order to retain the flexible inner and outer bands IIl'--I5 in their operative position between the inner hat band I9 and the crown 20'. Indentations 26 may be provided in the flanged portion 24 of the offsets 2! in order to frictionally engage peripheral region 25 of the inner hat band I9. This affords a temporary attaching mediLun for the hat fitting device. This is of primary significance in connection with military service hats where duplication would be undesirable because of the large number that would be utilized in the event such was adopted as standard military equipment. It should be noted that a very simple, flexible, and highly advantageous device has been provided to conform large hats to appreciably smaller heads in situations where the supply of exact sizes would be impractical.

It should be emphasized that while invention has been described particularly in connection with headgear, it can be utilized with equal advantage as a waistband compensator in conjunction with trousers in order to conform them to the shape of the body and thus do away with a belt. In a modified form when sized for the particular purpose, the structure can be used on any kind of socks or stockings, ladies or mens, to conform with the shape of the leg and hold the apparel in position. Likewise, the device in a somewhat modified form to meet the special purpose on mens vests to do away with a buckle, and at the same time to conform the vest to the body and form a better shaped vest on the person. In a considerably reduced size, the device can be used as a safety for a ring which is worn on the finger by conforming to three or four different sizes so that the ring cannot be taken off the finger. It keeps the ring from turning and in the initial position.

These examples should be construed merely as illustration rather than limitation upon the invention in that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of .the advantages or features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation of the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-adjusting device for headgear and the like comprising an arcuate resilient elongated band bowed to normally possess shorter radii than the human head for adapting a larger size headgear thereto, and friction means for removeably attaching said band to the headgear in a position to confront the head of the wearer, said elongated normally bowed band being substantially shorter than the circumference of the headgear and detachably associated therewith.

2. A'self-adjusting device for headgear and the like comprising an arcuate resilient elongated band bowed to normally possess shorter radii than the human head for adaptinga larger size headgear thereto, and another elongated bowed resilient band anchored to said first named band to cooperate therewith as a take-up between the headgear and head of the wearer.

3. A self-adjusting device for headgear and the like comprising an arcuate resilient elongated band bowed to normally possess shorter radii than the human head for adapting a larger size headgear thereto, and another elongated bowed resilient band anchored at one extremity to a corresponding extremity of said first named band to cooperate therewith as a take-up between the headgear and head of the wearer.

4. A self-adjusting device for headgearand the like comprising an arcuate resilient elongated band bowed to normally possess shorter radii than the human head for adapting a larger size headgear thereto, and another elongated bowed resilient band anchored at one extremity to a corresponding extremity of said first named band to cooperate therewith as a take-up between the headgear and head of the wearer, said last named band having a greater curvature than said first named band to comprise a compound take-up therewith.

CHARLES DOERING; 

